My 3 year journey!

The year 2008 will be coming to a close in a few hours time. It's been almost 3 months since I have graduated and obtained my wings. Being part phlegmatic that I am, I've only finally mustered sufficient drive to put in this entry to close up this chapter of my life and start a new one.

Looking back at the time when I first submitted my application to the airforce, it's been 3+ years. So many things have happened since. I remember I was still an undergraduate at NUS, awaiting for my application to go through, wondering whether it would ever be in God's will for me to become a fighter pilot.

The journey through the selection, basic flying and the fighter training phase were challenging and trying periods for my love ones and I. I dare say that, these 3 years have been a very humbling and yet wonderful experience. Humbling, because never in my life thus far, have my weaknesses been so clearly revealed to me. Wonderful because through my weaknesses, the Lord has shown to me how Sovereign and great He is. The Lord has taught me total dependence and complete trust in Him through the following 3 particular phases, which I would like to share.

1) Medical

To keep it brief, I've always had sinus problems since young - stuffy nose in the morning and such. And I was afraid that I would not pass the aviation medical check for that reason. I prayed and God answered mightily. He not only cleared me through my medical check ups, but ever since, my sinus problem has never given me any problems during my flight training! How great a God is He!

2) Selection for fighters

10 months of basic flight training in Australia was to be the stage for fighter selection. This was a period where I truly learnt to humble myself and leave it all in God's sovereign hands. Only the best few trainees from this training would be selected to proceed on for fighter training. I prayed and pleaded to God daily and God answered by showing His power and sovereignty by granting me a slot in fighter training against all statistical odds! Can you imagine how elated and happy I was when I received that news! It was not by my hard work, diligence and ability that earned me my place in fighter training, but it was by God's grace and mighty hands that have done so! Praise the Lord for His goodness and faithfulness!

3) Completing fighter training

My one year in France have been the most trying time. This phase in particular was really an enligtening and humbling one as well. Never before have my weaknesses been so clearly revealed to me than this phase. There have been many times that I have envied my course mates because of their performance and ability. I've never ceased to pray and hope that the Lord would grant me better performance and ability. But somehow the Lord has sufficiently provided that which is sufficient, nothing more and nothing less. In doing so the Lord has taught me total dependence on Him as He leads, guides and provides sufficiently daily and each step of the way. God has strenghtened my faith and increase my dependence on Him. I thank God for His moulding, and His mercies and grace in leading and guiding me through this course every single step of the way.

I recount the many times even up till the last few flights of the course, where I didn't even dare dream that I would be able to graduate as a fighter pilot, I truly praise and thank the Lord for fulfilling that dream. Words are not enough to express the gratitude and praise that I have for the Lord God almighty! Praise the Lord from whom all blessings flow!!

What Next?

The past 3 years were not easy but thanks be to God for His grace and mercies! As I begin my journey as a fighter pilot to defend my nation, I know the road ahead and journey that awaits me would be fraud with numerous and possibly overwhelming obstacles, difficulties and uncertainties. But one thing I am sure of, is that the Lord is sovereign, mightier and more powerful than whatever I would face! My trust and faith would be in God and God alone!

"As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him." -Psa 18:30

"The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower." -Psa 18:2

"It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes." -Psa 118: 8-9

"For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible(to be revered and feared), which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward" -Deu 10:17

p.s.

It is my ernest prayer that this testimony would be an encouragement to anyone reading it.

For those with like precious faith, be encouraged that you can commit and trust the Lord in anything, from the smallest of things to the biggest of problems. The Lord is able, mighty and sovereign!

For those of you who are non-Christians, I pray that this account of the Lord's goodness toward me would get you thinking about the only true and living God that I worship, the Lord Jesus Christ. And by God's grace, one day, you too would come to accept and believe in this true and living God!

The Lord my comforter and strength

Blogging is definitely not my second nature, which explains for the long lapses between entries, but the Lord has been so good to me that I cannot keep quiet.

It's been 10 months since I started my course here in France. I'm about 70-80% through with the course. The journey here is definetely harder and more challenging than Australia and I really never dare imagine that I would be able to come this far, much less graduate. There have been many ups and downs and there were times that I really thought that I wouldn't pull through those downs. And there are many times that I really was down spirited and discouraged. Being away from home and loved ones, I felt alone. The only source of comfort, relief and assurance I could find was from the Bible and prayer, pouring out my heart and soul to the Lord who hears.

The Lord was the one who comforted me and uplifted my spirits. He was the one who raised me up from my falls and set me on my feet. He gave me the extra strength and grace to scale those impossible mountains. He would never let me be tried more than what I could take. The Lord indeed is true and faithful and He is sovereign and able to keep! He is the King of kings and Lord of lords, the only true and living GOD! Praise His Wonderful name.

Let this entry be an encouragement and a reminder to all that, the only source of true comfort, assurance and joy is found in the Lord Jesus Christ, simply because He hears, Is Able and answers.

As you can see from the counter at the top of the blog, I'm near to the end of the course. God willing, I will graduate in about a month's time. Let it be known to all who reads this, that when I do graduate, it is solely by the grace, mercies and sovereign hand of God and not my own hard work or abilities. So let all praise and glory be unto the LORD MOST HIGH!

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof." -Psa 16:1-3

"The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower." -Psa 18:2

"Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand." -Psa 37:24

God even in the computer age

Its been a very long time since I've put in an entry but God has been so good that it would not be right to just keep quiet about His goodness. However this would be a short entry tho.

My laptop was hit by some virus and spyware, which had these irritating popups every few minutes. It was truly annoying! At that point in time, my mind really went blank. I didn't know what I could do besides re formatting my com. However, I've never reformatted a computer before and I did not have any of the software installation discs with me here in France! I was really lost in terms of what to do. My mind went into a swirl, thinking of how I would survive without a properly working computer. I needed it for briefs and projects! It was not just a comfort item, it was a need. While waiting for my recovery disc to be created (it took about an hour and a half), I pleaded with God that I really really needed the computer to be back in its working condition.

And guess what, after a system restore and a restart, the computer went back to normal! And my anti-virus which was not able to contain the virus earlier on, was able to do it after the system restore! I'm not a person who is very savvy with computers and I really do not know the technical details of what happened, but I do know one thing, and that is, God is a God even in this computer age! He is sovereign and nothing is too hard for HIM! Praise His glorious name!

"Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:" -Jer 32:17

First Solo!

Meant to put this entry 2 weeks ago. Anyway here it is.

I went for my first solo on the A4SU Super Skyhawk about 2 weeks ago. It's a milestone for me in my training to be a pilot. Honestly, I really didn't dare imagine of going for my first solo so smoothly! I expected it to be fraud with more difficulties and much harder than what I've gone through. I'm not saying that it was easy but it was smoother than what I expected.

Its definitetly by the grace and mighty arm of the Lord alone, who has brought and guided me through to my first solo! All praise and glory be to Him. It is not by my own strength but His alone that I've come this far. The days ahead would only get tougher and more challenging. I do not know what the future holds but my trust and confidence is in the Lord who is my Rock and Fortress,unwaivering and unchanging.

"The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower." -Psa 18:2

All Glory to God Almighty!